Agreed, plumb the RO unit wherever is convenient for you. Just remember to have a sewer drain nearby if you don't plan on re-claiming the waste water .
About sumps, go ahead and checkout melevsreef.com for info on how they work, why to use them, and a little about how to DIY them.
For test kits, you'll need to start with ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and I'd reccomend a phosphate kit (to ward off algae) as well. You'll need a hydrometer or refractometer (refractometer being more reliable) to measure your salinity and obviously a thermometer. Once you start adding corals, you'll need to add a Calcium and a kH (aka alkalinity or carbonate hardness) test kit. Its OK to not buy the best of the best for basic biologics and pH, but spend the money on good quality Seachem or Salifert kits for phosphate, Calcium, and kH.
All other advice given here is great.
Have you thought about water flow and cleaning your glass yet?
About sumps, go ahead and checkout melevsreef.com for info on how they work, why to use them, and a little about how to DIY them.
For test kits, you'll need to start with ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and I'd reccomend a phosphate kit (to ward off algae) as well. You'll need a hydrometer or refractometer (refractometer being more reliable) to measure your salinity and obviously a thermometer. Once you start adding corals, you'll need to add a Calcium and a kH (aka alkalinity or carbonate hardness) test kit. Its OK to not buy the best of the best for basic biologics and pH, but spend the money on good quality Seachem or Salifert kits for phosphate, Calcium, and kH.
All other advice given here is great.
Have you thought about water flow and cleaning your glass yet?